Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Loving Anna by Zequeatta Jaques

Anna didn't believe in UFOs or life on other planets until one fateful summer evening when she and her brother, Andrew, learned from the loving couple who have raised them that they are descendants of not only their human parents, but of a people from another world. Anna and Andrew, shocked and stunned by the revelation, must follow their hearts.

Join them on their cosmic journey as they travel from earth to another world and enter a turbulent time in which decisions made lead them to heartache, loss, and eventual understanding that love conquers all.

Anna is stunned to find the people who fostered her and her brother are from the planet of Gar. The people of Gar are unable to breed with their own kind but they can breed with humans from earth. Anger overcomes Anna’s astonishment when she finds she and her sibling are two of several people born to mate with the people of Gar and start to populate a new planet. Informed that a spaceship is coming to pick them up, Anna refuses to go unless her best friend Charlee can come too. Reluctantly her foster parents agree and the extended family beam up to the spaceship and the journey begins.

While the other half human, half Gar people will get their mates ordained by the High Commander, Anna has been specially bred to mate with the High Commander Traun. Her anger evaporates when she meets Traun, who she decides is drop dead gorgeous. So begins the volatile relationship which is not helped by Traun’s ex mistress, who joins the group sent to the new world.

Every time Anna made up her mind to be the lifemate Traun expects his position as High Commander came between them. Another stumbling point was Avreen, Traun’s ex-mistress, who was determined to rekindle their affair and take Traun for her own.

How can a young woman from South Dakota cope with a new planet, an unknown lifemate and a jealous woman? The wormhole back to Earth has closed so Anna must work out a way to deal with her problems.

I enjoyed reading this book. It grabbed my interest from the beginning, and as I turned the pages I wasn’t disappointed. Anna and Traun were obviously meant for each other, but many things interfered. The story developed in unexpected ways. Every time Anna, Traun and their extended family thought they had solved their problems, new ones appeared. Alongside their personal difficulties were the hazards of settling a new planet with people who were strangers.

Definitely a book to read if you like fantasy romance novels with a touch of the unusual.

RATING EXPLANATION:

1 Star— At this time, we at LASR do not post these reviews. If the book was boring, badly edited, poorly written, had little or no plot, stilted dialogue, and/or unsympathetic characters, we will decline the review.

2 Stars— Not wonderful, but tolerable. There may be some minor editing glitches but not enough to stop you reading. Not a wall-banger, but nothing you'd re-read. This is a book you would borrow from the library - not buy - and never check out again.

3 Stars— Good. Mostly enjoyable. You made it through and didn't consider it a waste of time or money. The story was strong enough or the conflict tight enough, so even when the book faltered, it was able to draw you back in and keep you. There's a chance you'll recommend it to a friend, but it wouldn't go on your keeper shelf.

4 Stars— Very Good. You're glad you were the one who got to review the book. You would probably buy it and would definitely recommend it to your friends. You liked the characters and the plot. The writing style was good and the editing clean.

5 Stars— Great! You would definitely buy this book. You would definitely recommend it to your friends. You really loved the characters and the plot and would consider looking for this authors back list or making her an autobuy. The writing and editing were superb.

LASR Best Book - For a book or story that is truly exceptional. You think about it when you're not reading it. You wonder what happens to the characters when you finish. You would absolutely buy everything else this author had to offer. The highest praise - and reserved for only a few.

FTC Guidelines and Affliliate Disclosure

In compliance with FTC Guides Governing Endorsements, Testimonials, etc., please be advised that the majority of the books The Long and the Short of It reviews are provided free of charge by various publishers and authors, though we also review many books from the library or self-purchase.

Additionally, please note that we participate in an affiliate program with Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble and we earn a small commission on most purchases that are bought through our links.